Loan Guaranty: Specially Adapted Housing Assistive Technology Grant Program, 4774-4778 [2018-01988]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 22 (Thursday, February 1, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4774-4778]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-01988]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Loan Guaranty: Specially Adapted Housing Assistive Technology 
Grant Program

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice of funding availability.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is announcing the 
availability of funds for the Specially Adapted Housing Assistive 
Technology (SAHAT) Grant Program for fiscal year (FY) 2018. The 
objective of the grant is to encourage the development of new assistive 
technologies for specially adapted housing. This notice is intended to 
provide applicants with the information necessary to apply for the 
SAHAT Grant Program. Registration will be available at www.Grants.gov. 
VA strongly recommends referring to the Specially Adapted Housing 
Assistive Technology Grant Program regulation in conjunction with this 
notice. The registration process described in this notice applies only 
to applicants who will register to submit project applications for FY 
2018 SAHAT Grant Program funds.

DATES: Applications for the SAHAT Grant Program must be submitted via 
www.Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on February 25, 2018. The 
SAHAT Grant Program application package for funding opportunity, VA-
SAHAT-18-03, is available through www.Grants.gov and is listed as VA-
Specially Adapted Housing Assistive Technology Grant Program. 
Applications may not be sent by mail, email, or facsimile. All 
application materials must be in a format compatible with the 
www.Grants.gov application submission tool. Applications must arrive as 
a complete package. Materials arriving separately will not be included 
in the application package for consideration and may result in the 
application being rejected. Technical assistance with the preparation 
of an initial SAHAT Grant Program application is available by 
contacting the program official listed below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bryant Lacey (Program Manager), 
Specially Adapted Housing Program (262), Veterans Benefits 
Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, 
Washington, DC 20420, (202) 632-8955. (This is not a toll-free number.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Full Text of Announcement: This notice is divided into eight 
sections. Section I provides a summary of and background information on 
the SAHAT Grant Program as well as the statutory authority, desired 
outcomes, funding priorities, definitions, and delegation of authority. 
Section II provides award information, including funding availability, 
and the anticipated start date of the SAHAT Grant Program. Section III 
provides detailed information on eligibility and the threshold criteria 
for submitting an application. Section IV provides detailed application 
and submission information, including how to request an application, 
application content, and

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submission dates and times. Section V describes the review process, 
scoring criteria, and selection process. Section VI provides award 
administration information such as award notices and reporting 
requirements. Section VII provides agency contacts. Section VIII 
provides additional information related to the SAHAT Grant Program. 
This notice includes citations from 38 CFR part 36, which applicants 
and stakeholders are expected to read to increase their knowledge and 
understanding of the SAHAT Grant Program.

I. Program Description

A. Summary

    Pursuant to the Veterans' Benefits Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-275, 
124 Stat. 2864), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Secretary), through 
the Loan Guaranty Service (LGY) of the Veterans Benefits Administration 
(VBA), is authorized to provide grants of financial assistance to 
develop new assistive technology. The objective of the SAHAT Grant 
Program is to encourage the development of new assistive technologies 
for adapted housing.

B. Background

    LGY currently administers the Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) 
Program. Through this program, LGY provides funds to eligible veterans 
and servicemembers with certain service-connected disabilities to help 
purchase or construct an adapted home, or modify an existing home, to 
allow them to live more independently. Please see 38 U.S.C. 
2101(a)(2)(B) and (C) and 38 U.S.C. 2101(b)(2) for a list of qualifying 
service-connected disabilities. Currently, most SAH adaptations involve 
structural modifications such as ramps, wider hallways and doorways, 
and roll-in showers and other accessible bathroom features, etc. For 
more information about the SAH Program, please visit: https://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/adaptedhousing.asp.
    VA acknowledges there are many emerging technologies and 
improvements in building materials that could improve home adaptions or 
otherwise enhance a veteran's or servicemember's ability to live 
independently. Therefore, in 38 CFR 36.4412(b)(2), VA has defined ``new 
assistive technology'' as an advancement that the Secretary determines 
could aid or enhance the ability of an eligible individual, as defined 
in 38 CFR 36.4401, to live in an adapted home. SAHAT funding will 
support the creation of assistive technologies that veterans and 
servicemembers can use in order to facilitate optimal independence in 
their homes.
    Please Note: SAHAT funding does not support the construction or 
modification of residential dwellings for accessibility. Veterans and 
servicemembers interested in receiving assistance to adapt a home are 
encouraged to review the following factsheet: https://www.prosthetics.va.gov/factsheet/PSAS-FactSheet-Housing-Adaptation-Programs.pdf to identify Home Adaptation programs offered by VA.

C. Statutory Authority

    Public Law 111-275, the Veterans' Benefits Act of 2010 (the Act), 
was enacted on October 13, 2010. Section 203 of the Act amended chapter 
21, title 38, U.S.C., to establish the SAHAT Grant Program. The Act 
authorized VA to provide grants of up to $200,000 per fiscal year, 
through September 30, 2016, to a ``person or entity'' for the 
development of specially adapted housing assistive technologies. The 
Act limited the aggregate amount of such grants VA may award in any 
fiscal year to $1 million.
    On September 29, 2017, Public Law 115-62, the Department of 
Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2017 was enacted. Section 
408 of title IV extended the authority for VA to provide grants in the 
manner listed above, through September 30, 2018. See 38 U.S.C. 2108 and 
38 CFR 36.4412.

D. Desired Outcomes and Funding Priorities

    Grantees will be expected to leverage grant funds to develop new 
assistive technologies for specially adapted housing. In 38 CFR 
36.4412(f)(2), VA set out the scoring criteria and the maximum points 
allowed for each criterion. As explained in the preambles to both the 
proposed and final rules, while the scoring framework is set out in the 
regulation text, each notice will address the scoring priorities for 
that particular grant cycle. 79 FR 53146, 53148, Sept. 8, 2014; 80 FR 
55763, 55764, Sept. 17, 2014. For FY 2018, the Secretary has 
established innovation and unmet needs, as described in scoring 
criteria 1 and 2 contained in Section V(A) of this notice, as top 
priorities. Additional information regarding how these priorities will 
be scored is contained in Section V(A) of this notice.

E. Definitions

    Definitions of terms used in the SAHAT Grant Program are found at 
38 CFR 36.4412(b).

F. Delegation of Authority

    Pursuant to 38 CFR 36.4412(i), each VA employee appointed to or 
lawfully fulfilling any of the following positions is delegated 
authority, within the limitations and conditions prescribed by law, to 
exercise the powers and functions of the Secretary with respect to the 
SAHAT Grant Program authorized by 38 U.S.C. 2108:

1. Under Secretary for Benefits
2. Deputy Under Secretary for Economic Opportunity
3. Director, Loan Guaranty Service
4. Deputy Director, Loan Guaranty Service

II. Award Information

A. Funding Availability

    The aggregate amount of assistance VA may award in any fiscal year 
is limited to $1 million. This funding will be provided as an 
assistance agreement in the form of grants. The number of assistance 
agreements VA will fund as a result of this notice will be based on the 
quality of the technology grant applications received and the 
availability of funding. However, the maximum amount of assistance a 
technology grant applicant may receive in any fiscal year is limited to 
$200,000.

B. Additional Funding Information

    Funding for these projects is not guaranteed and is subject to the 
availability of funds and the evaluation of technology grant 
applications based on the criteria in this announcement. In appropriate 
circumstances, VA reserves the right to partially fund technology grant 
applications by funding discrete portions or phases of proposed 
projects that relate to adapted housing. Award of funding through this 
competition is not a guarantee of future funding. The SAHAT Grant 
Program is administered annually and does not guarantee subsequent 
awards. Renewal grants to provide new assistive technology will not be 
considered under this announcement.

C. Start and Close-out Date

    The anticipated start date of grants funded under this announcement 
is April 2, 2018. Grant projects must be closed out by September 30, 
2019.

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Applicants

    As authorized by 38 U.S.C. 2108, the Secretary may provide a grant 
to a ``person or entity'' for the development of specially adapted 
housing assistive technologies. In order to foster competition and best 
serve the needs of

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veterans and servicemembers, VA is placing no restrictions on the types 
of eligible entities, except as noted in Section III(C) of this notice.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching

    There is no cost sharing, matching, or cost participation for the 
SAHAT Grant Program. However, leveraged resources will be considered as 
an evaluation criterion during the application review process (see 
scoring criterion 6 in Section V of this announcement). Leveraged 
resources are not included in the approved budget (outlined in the 
Standard Form 424A--BUDGET INFORMATION--Non-Construction Programs) for 
the project and need not be an eligible and allowable cost under the 
grant. Any form of proposed leveraging that is evaluated under Section 
V scoring criteria must be included in the application, and the 
application must describe how the technology grant applicant will 
obtain the leveraged resources and what role VA funding will play in 
the overall project.

C. Threshold Criteria

    As stated in Section III(A), VA is placing no restrictions on the 
types of eligible entities. However, all technology grant applicants 
and applications must meet the threshold criteria set forth below. 
Failure to meet any of the following threshold criteria in the 
application will result in the automatic disqualification for funding 
consideration. Ineligible participants will be notified within 30 days 
of the finding of disqualification for award consideration based on the 
following threshold criteria:
    1. Projects funded under this notice must involve new assistive 
technologies that the Secretary determines could aid or enhance the 
ability of a veteran or servicemember to live in an adapted home.
    2. Projects funded under this notice must not be used for the 
completion of work which was to have been completed under a prior 
grant.
    3. Applications in which the technology grant applicant is 
requesting assistance funds in excess of $200,000 will not be reviewed.
    4. Applications that do not comply with the application and 
submission information requirements provided in Section IV of this 
notice will be rejected.
    5. Applications submitted via mail, email, or facsimile will not be 
reviewed.
    6. Applications must be received through www.Grants.gov, as 
specified in Section IV of this announcement, on or before the 
application deadline, February 25, 2018. Applications received through 
www.Grants.gov after the application deadline will be considered late 
and will not be reviewed.
    7. Technology grant applicants that have an outstanding obligation 
to the Federal Government that is in arrears or have an overdue or 
unsatisfactory response to an audit will be deemed ineligible.
    8. Technology grant applicants in default by failing to meet the 
requirements for any previous Federal assistance will be deemed 
ineligible.
    9. Applications submitted by entities deemed ineligible will not be 
reviewed.
    10. Applications with project dates that extend past June 30, 2019 
(this period does not include the 90 days closeout period) will not be 
reviewed.
    All technology grant recipients, including individuals and entities 
formed as for-profit entities, will be subject to the rules on Uniform 
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements 
for Federal Awards, as found at 2 CFR part 200. See 2 CFR 200.101(a). 
Where the Secretary determines that 2 CFR part 200 is not applicable or 
where the Secretary determines that additional requirements are 
necessary due to the uniqueness of a situation, the Secretary will 
apply the same standard applicable to exceptions under 2 CFR 200.102.

IV. Application and Submission Information

A. Address To Request Application Package

    Technology grant applicants may download the application package 
from www.Grants.gov. Questions regarding the application process should 
be referred to the program official: Bryant Lacey (Program Manager), 
Specially Adapted Housing Program, [email protected], (202) 632-8955 
(This is not a toll-free number.)

B. Content and Form of Application Submission

    The SAHAT Grant Program application package provided at 
www.Grants.gov (Funding Opportunity Number: VA-SAHAT-18-03) contains 
electronic versions of the application forms that are required. 
Additional attachments to satisfy the required application information 
may be provided; however, letters of support included with the 
application will not be reviewed. All technology grant applications 
must consist of the following:

    1. Standard Forms (SF) 424, 424A and 424B: The SF-424, SF-424A, 
and SF-424B require general information about the applicant and 
proposed project. The project budget should be described in SF-424A. 
Please do not include leveraged resources in SF-424A.
    2. VA Form 26-0967: Certification Regarding Debarment, 
Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion.
    3. VA Form 26-0967a: Scoring Criteria for SAH Assistive 
Technology Grants.
    4. Applications: In addition to the forms listed above, each 
technology grant application must include the following information:
    a. A project description, including the goals and objectives of 
the project, what the project is expected to achieve, and how the 
project will benefit veterans and servicemembers.
    b. An estimated schedule including the length of time (not to 
extend past June 30, 2019) needed to accomplish tasks and objectives 
for the project.
    c. A description of what the project proposes to demonstrate and 
how this new technology will aid or enhance the ability of veterans 
and servicemembers to live in an adapted home. The following link 
has additional information regarding adapted homes: https://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/adaptedhousing.asp.
    d. Each technology grant applicant is responsible for ensuring 
that the application addresses each of the scoring criteria listed 
in Section V(A) of this notice.

C. Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) and System for 
Award Management (SAM)

    Each technology grant applicant, unless the applicant is an 
individual or Federal awarding agency that is excepted from these 
requirements under 2 CFR 25.110(b) or (c), or has an exception approved 
by VA under 2 CFR 25.110(d), is required to:

    1. Be registered in SAM prior to submitting an application;
    2. Provide a valid DUNS number in the application; and
    3. Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current 
information at all times during which the technology grant applicant 
has an active Federal award or an application under consideration by 
VA.

    VA will not make an award to an applicant until the applicant has 
complied with all applicable DUNS and SAM requirements, and if the 
applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time VA 
is ready to make an award, VA will determine the applicant is not 
qualified to receive a Federal award and will use this determination as 
a basis for making the award to another applicant.

D. Submission Dates and Times

    Applications for the SAHAT Grant Program must be submitted via 
www.Grants.gov to be transmitted to VA by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on 
February 25, 2018. Submissions received after this application deadline 
will be

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considered late and will not be reviewed or considered. Submissions via 
email, mail, or fax will not be accepted.
    Applications submitted via www.Grants.gov must be submitted by an 
individual registered with www.Grants.gov and authorized to sign 
applications for Federal assistance. For more information and to 
complete the registration process, visit www.Grants.gov. Technology 
grant applicants are responsible for ensuring that the registration 
process does not hinder timely submission of the application.
    It is the responsibility of grant applicants to ensure a complete 
application is submitted via www.Grants.gov. Applicants are encouraged 
to periodically review the ``Version History Tab'' of the funding 
opportunity announcement in www.Grants.gov to identify if any 
modifications have been made to the funding announcement and/or 
opportunity package. Upon initial download of the funding opportunity 
package, applicants will be asked to provide an email address that will 
allow www.Grants.gov to send the applicant an email message in the 
event this funding opportunity package is changed and/or republished on 
www.Grants.gov prior to the posted closing date.

E. Confidential Business Information

    It is recommended that confidential business information (CBI) not 
be included in the application. However, if CBI is included in an 
application, applicants should clearly indicate which portion(s) of 
their application they are claiming as CBI. See 2 CFR 200.333-200.337 
(addressing access to a non-Federal entity's records pertinent to a 
Federal award).

F. Intergovernmental Review

    This section is not applicable to the SAHAT Grant Program.

G. Funding Restrictions

    The SAHAT Grant Program does not allow reimbursement of pre-award 
costs.

V. Application Review Information

    Each eligible proposal (based on the Section III threshold 
eligibility review) will be evaluated according to the criteria 
established by the Secretary and provided below in Section A.

A. Scoring Criteria

    The Secretary will score technology grant applications based on the 
scoring criteria listed below. As indicated in Section I of this 
notice, the Secretary is placing the greatest emphasis on criteria 1 
and 2. The establishment of priorities does not establish new scoring 
criteria but is designed to assist technology grant applicants in 
understanding how scores will be weighted. A technology grant 
application must receive a minimum aggregate score of 70. Instructions 
for completion of the scoring criteria are listed on VA Form 26-0967a. 
This form is included in the application package materials on 
www.Grants.gov. The scoring criteria and maximum points are as follows:

    1. A description of how the new assistive technology is 
innovative (up to 50 points);
    2. An explanation of how the new assistive technology will meet 
a specific, unmet need among eligible individuals (up to 50 points);
    3. An explanation of how the new assistive technology is 
specifically designed to promote the ability of eligible individuals 
to live more independently (up to 30 points);
    4. A description of the new assistive technology's concept, 
size, and scope (up to 30 points);
    5. An implementation plan with major milestones for bringing the 
new assistive technology into production and to the market. Such 
milestones must be meaningful and achievable within a specific 
timeframe (up to 30 points); and
    6. An explanation of what uniquely positions the technology 
grant applicant in the marketplace. This can include a focus on 
characteristics such as the economic reliability of the technology 
grant applicant, the technology grant applicant's status as a 
minority or veteran-owned business, or other characteristics that 
the technology grant applicant wants to include to show how it will 
help protect the interests of, or further the mission of, VA and the 
program (up to 20 points).

B. Review and Selection Process

    Eligible applications will be evaluated by a five-person review 
panel comprised of VA employees. The review panel will score 
applications using the scoring criteria provided in Section V(A), with 
the greatest emphasis being placed on scoring criteria 1 and 2. The 
review panel will then rank those applications that receive a minimum 
aggregate score of 70 in order from highest to lowest. The delegated 
official will select the highest ranked application(s) based on, and 
subject to, the availability of funds.

VI. Award Administration Information

A. Award Notices

    Although subject to change, the SAHAT Grant Program Office expects 
to announce grant recipients by April 1, 2018. Prior to executing any 
funding agreement, VA will contact successful applicants, make known 
the amount of proposed funding, and verify the applicant's desire to 
receive the funding. Any communication between the SAHAT Grant Program 
Office and successful applicants prior to the issuance of an award 
notice is not authorization to begin project activities. Once VA 
verifies that the grant applicant is still seeking funding, VA will 
issue a signed and dated award notice. The award notice will be sent by 
U.S. Mail to the organization listed on the SF-424.
    All applicants will be notified by letter, sent by U.S. Mail to the 
address listed on the SF-424.

B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    This section is not applicable to the SAHAT Grant Program.

C. Reporting

    VA places great emphasis on the responsibility and accountability 
of grantees. Grantees must agree to cooperate with any Federal 
evaluation of the program and provide the following:

    1. Quarterly Progress Reports: These reports will be submitted 
electronically and outline how grant funds were used, describe 
program progress, and describe any barriers and measurable outcomes. 
Grantees will utilize the Research Performance Progress Report for 
quarterly reporting purposes.
    2. Quarterly Financial Reports: These reports will be submitted 
electronically using the SF-425--Federal Financial Report.
    3. Grantee Closeout Report: This final report will be submitted 
electronically and will detail the assistive technology developed. 
The Closeout Report must be submitted to the SAHAT Grant Program 
Office not later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, September 30, 2019.

VII. Agency Contact(s)

    For additional general information about this announcement contact 
the program official: Bryant Lacey (Program Manager), Specially Adapted 
Housing Program, [email protected]. (202) 632-8955 (This is not a 
toll-free number.)
    Mailed correspondence, which should not include application 
material, should be sent to: Loan Guaranty Service, VA Central Office, 
Attn: Bryant Lacey (262), 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420.
    All correspondence with VA concerning this announcement should 
reference the funding opportunity title and funding opportunity number 
listed at the top of this solicitation. Once the announcement deadline 
has passed, VA staff may not discuss this competition with applicants 
until the application review process has been completed.

VIII. Other Information

    Section 2108 authorizes VA to provide grants for the development of

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new assistive technologies through September 30, 2018. Additional 
information related to the SAH program administered by LGY is available 
at: https://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/adaptedhousing.asp.
    The SAHAT Grant is not a veterans' benefit. As such, the decisions 
of the Secretary are final and not subject to the same appeal rights as 
decisions related to veterans' benefits. The Secretary does not have a 
duty to assist technology grant applicants in obtaining a grant.
    Grantees will receive payments electronically through the U.S. 
Department of Health and Human Services Payment Management System.

Signing Authority

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or designee, approved this 
document and authorized the undersigned to sign and submit the document 
to the Office of the Federal Register for publication electronically as 
an official document of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
    Gina S. Farrisee, Deputy Chief of Staff, approved this document on 
January 23, 2018, for publication.

    Dated: January 29, 2018.
Michael Shores,
Director, Regulation Policy & Management, Office of the Secretary, 
Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2018-01988 Filed 1-31-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8320-01-P